New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-11-02
PERFIy'U / He SEA.
How They Are Met ard Overcome.
Apprehens;onSof Eandsmen.


Flow They Are Met ard oyercome-.
! Apprehens;ons of Eandsmen.
Boston Herald.
| The modern song and story makers
are not as fond Sas weretheiir predeces-
sors of the Glden time of referring to
waves that run mountains high, 2
crested pillows soaring above the
maintop," and all THAT sort Of thing.
That kind Of literature and ministry
TO the popshar idea passed out with
/ the big haps-disappeared from the
ocean OF reading matter just as square
rugged s craft sot every description van
flshed upon the advent of ocean
steam vessels, and are now scarcely
ito be found in any Of their old haunts
or situations. The romance Of the
sea anos it's navigation was insepa-
rable- from sails: and rigging and bulls,
which depended rather upon the skill
OF a,comman der than any powers al
forded by lnanmate agencies for the
Sale and successful prosecution OF
voyags and venture
Nevertheless, the sea has not chang
ed during all the years since creation,
and the attributes Of old ocean rem lain
I the same as when Paul the Apostle
mace his coasting trips, or Columbus,
the aiscoverar, set the example OF long
voyages. The winds roll up the
wa yes in precisely the same manner
today as In the days Of Noah. Cur-
reats are as deceitful, lee shores as
terrible, icebergs as dangerous, hurri-
canes as formidable as when the navies
81 the earth were in their infancy.
Mankind has perfected the methods
and multiplied the inventions for
meeting or providing against all these
natural manifestations; out the AL
mighty who, looking upon his work
IN n the slrst place, saw that it was good,
| has made not the slightest change
IN Its order since the beginning, nor in
any sense met half way the endeayors
,, OF his creatures to obtain supremacy.
Add SO 1t is that. Notwithstanding
all the advances which man has made
III the direction of overcoming the
natural obstacles to navigation OF
the ocean, it still remains that he has
not progressed in the least in most
desirable ways and in matters of vital
Importance. For example: Fogs, as
an clement opposed to marine opera.
tons, are nota whit less dangerous
to-day than in tho days when the
great admirals of the nations modelled
their vessels upon the washerwoman's
tub. The combing, breaking sea"
will tear in pieces the modern built
hull just as quickly and as completely
as was the case when the Armada
foundered.
Collisions at sea are even, worse now
than in the olden time, for rates OF
speed are higher, and, when mistakes
occur. they are sure to be more dis
astrous than when a simpler order
OF things prevailed. In the matter OF
security against fire. the dividing
OF ships into compartments, whereby
practically many hul!s are made OF
one, and similar provisions against
accidents or bad management, there
is something to be said for human IN
vention and discovery, but in many
supreme points nature stills holds an
Irresistible front.
But the landsman's measure of the
perlls OF the ocean is not very likely
to represent that which affects the
Captain Of the frst-class elmer"
among steamships; nor is the estimate
OF danger OF even the most expert
enced passengers by any means sure
to impress the veteran navigator coal
~. l'he one recognizes lurking mis-.
haps in q fog,and is tried to the verge
OF endurance during it's prevalence,
while the other whistles carelessly be,
cause the sea is smooth and the winds
are lulled. The Captain notes with
a concentration OF apprehension the
gathering OF icebergs on every hand,
well knowing that the slightest change
in the weather, or the sudden drawing
OF q curtain Of mist, may put him at
his wits end in extricating his vessel;
and all the while his passenger de.
nights IN the sunshine cleaning from
thousand pinnacles, and the gro
tesque marshaling OF the unique army,
~ he captain, finding his craft in the
midst OF powerful tidewaves, and in
fiuenced by hidden currents, sees with
awe and distrust that wind and way-
es are rising in conjunction, and that
the waters present more and more the
formation. peculiar to the situation.
of perpendicular walls, seemingly and
actually ready to topple ove- upon
whatever opposes with an overwhelm-
ing force.
These are not fancy pictures OF pos
sIbie dangers which might confront
the navigator, as exceptional expert
ences IN q long career. They are ever
present, practical situations. which
the transatlantic steamship cap |
tain must be familiar with,
and in the midst Of which
he lives and works That his
vessel is propelled by steam power is
something in his favor, which is al
most neutralized by the fact that she
IS sure to be Of size and proportions
and to present difficulties in navi-
CATION tar in excess OF that which
would be the case if she depended sole
y upon sails for propulsion. Abreak
IN machinery during a furious gale;
contact OF such brlk, be it ever SO I